Mental health should be seen as a vital part of everyone’s overall health and well being in Seychelles, the Seychelles Ministry of Health and Social Development has declared in the Seychellois capital Victoria on Saturday.
In a message in its campaign to mark ’World Mental Health Day’ this Saturday under the theme “Mental health in primary care – enhancing treatment and promoting mental health”, the ministry declares that mental illness does not choose its victims – they occur in all cultures and at all stages of the lifespan.”
The ministry indicates that in 2008 a total of 477 patients were admitted to the psychiatric unit of the Victoria Hospital in Victoria, of whom 343 were men and 134 women.
It adds that the main reasons for admission were alcohol use and abuse, substance use and abuse, schizophrenia, mood affective disorders, and neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders.
Also the ministry declares that the government was taking every step to integrate mental health into primary health care as it is is the most viable way of ensuring that people have access to the mental health care that they need.
It adds that mental illness has a major impact on the physical health of people living with it and that the government will make more available appropriate services for those who require them.
Source African Press Agency
